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Microsoft Extends Access to Minecraft: Education Edition and Resources to Help With Remote Learning

As COVID-19 concerns prompt schools to close across the globe Many educators are turning to remote learning to keep their students engaged. To aid teachers and students in staying connected to their classrooms, Minecraft: Education Edition is now available through June 2020 for all learners and educators who have a valid Office 365 Education account. Fill out this form to confirm your account and request access to Minecraft.



We also have compiled an exclusive Minecraft remote learning toolkit, which includes more than 50 lessons, STEM curriculum , and project-based learning activities so educators can utilize Minecraft: Education Edition with their students whether they are at home, at school, or in a different remote learning environment.



Features like classroom multiplayer let students to work together on projects in their Minecraft worlds, while building learning, planning, and even chatting while they work together. (Download this tutorial on using Multiplayer Mode.) Students can utilize tools such as the Camera and Book & Quinl to capture screenshots and write about their projects and export their game portfolios to PDF when they are prepared to submit their projects.



"Distance learning requires students to be involved in engaging with content in a variety of ways," explains educator and Minecraft certified trainer Becky Keene. They require activities and learning environments that encourage them to learn, since they work from home. Minecraft can be used to support almost any topic and allows students to show me their learning without a break!"



When students collaborate remotely in Minecraft: Education Edition, it opens up new opportunities for them to build skills in problem-solving and communication. Mark Henkels, a Minecraft educator in New York, says, "It's the social interaction that is the main reason why the game is so popular and great. And that social interaction is what makes Minecraft an excellent educational tool."






Here's how you can set up Minecraft Education Edition on your device or your school:


Check here to see if your school account is eligible. - If you have an active O365 EDU account, fill out this form to request access to Minecraft: Education Edition until June 2020. Download Minecraft: Education Edition for Windows, Mac or iPad.



You can still download and test a free lesson on Windows, Mac, or iPad even without an O365 EDU account. Learn about other Minecraft distance learning resources here.






Explore free lessons, online training and distance learning projects for Minecraft Education Edition:


Explore STEM, language arts and history lessons with the remote learning toolkit. This includes building historic monuments, modeling animal and plant cells, and using coding to create a garden. Join the 2020 Minecraft Education Challenge with your students by using a programmable toolkit and tackle real-world sustainability and integration problems. - Take a free introduction online course for educators on the Microsoft Education Community (MEC) and also read this Starter Guide to learn the basics of teaching using Minecraft Education Edition. Check out these building challenges to have fun, fast-paced and creative activities to engage your students in STEM and storytelling. Learn to use different tools for game setup and assessment, as well as classroom management by watching this YouTube video playlist.






Educational content available for Minecraft Bedrock:


We recently announced a brand new category of educational worlds for Minecraft players everywhere in the Minecraft Marketplace to support families during school closings. A1 cdn This new Education Collection features worlds that you can play with your kids and your family, including creations by the creators Everbloom, Jigarbov, Lifeboat, Razzleberries, The World Foundry, Blockworks and Imagiverse! The worlds can be downloaded for free until June 30 2020. Anyone who has Minecraft for Bedrock can find these worlds by starting Minecraft and then visiting the in-game store.



There is no quick fix for major disruptions, such as school closures. However, these resources can help educators and students stay connected and involved in their learning. Please feel free to share your tips on remote teaching and learning with the Minecraft: Education Edition community on Twitter or Facebook.


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